Charles bernhard



ilnirnn STATES PATENT @reina CHARLESu BERNHARD, OF NFNV YORK, N.Y.

sLED-PRoPl-:LLER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,719, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed January `7, 1884. (Nomodel.) 4

To all whom, it 707,04/ concern:

'Be it known that I, CHARLES BERNHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to Vcertain improvements in mechanism for propelling and for steering sleds, said improvements being pointed out in the following spec-ication and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view on a smaller scale than the previous iigures. Fig. 4 is a face view of one of the propeller-wheels. v

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings,.the letter A designates a frame which rests upon the runners B B, and which supports the seat C. The uprights a of the frame form the bearings for a shaft, b, on the outer ends of which are firmly mounted cog` -wheels c, which gear in cog -wheels d, mounted loosely on studs e, which are iirmly secured in the uprights a and project outward. On the outer end of each of the studs is loosely mounted a hand -lever, D, which carries a pawl, f, that engages with a click or ratchet wheel. g,` firmly secured to the appropriate cog-wheel fl. By the action of the levers D, therefore, an intermittent rotary motion can be imparted to the cog-wheels d, and through these cog-wheels and cog-wheels c to the shaft 6; From this shaft extend two arms, E,which are situated close to the inner surfaces of the `uprights c, and are mounted loosely 0n the shaft b, so that ,they can swing thereon.

From each ofthe arms E projects a stud, 11 which forms the bearing for the propellerwheel F. These propeller-wheels are mounted' loosely on their studs, and in the example show-n in the drawings they consist each of two toothed rims with an intermediate hub.

On the shaft I) are firmly mounted two pulleys, 4I, which connect by belts or chains j with the hubs of the propeller-wheels.- The outer ends of the arms E are attached to springs k, Fig. l, which have a tendency to raise the arms, so as to keep the propeller-wheels out of contact with the ground.

In the rear portion ofthe frame A is mouned a rock-shaft, l, to one end of which is firmly secured a hand-lever, G, which extends up, so that it can be manipulated by the occupant of the seat C. From said rock-shaft extend elasi tic fingers m, which bear upon studs n, projecting from the arms E, so that when the rock-shaft is turned in the proper direction the arms E are depressed andthe propellerwheels are brought to bear upo'n the ground. This operation is performed by means of the hand-lever G, and in order to retain the propeller-wheels in their depressed position a movable stop, o, is provided,which is inserted in a hole behind the hand-lever, as shown in Fig. 1, several such holes being provided, so that by changing the position of the hand-lever and of the stop the elastic lingers m can be brought to bear upon the arms E with more or less force, and the propeller-wheels can be kept down upon the ground with the requisite pressure. When the propeller-wheels are depressed, the sled can be propelled by manipulating the hand-levers D, and it will be seen from the foregoing description that said propeller-wheels, being mounted on independent arms anddepressed by elastic fingers, can read- ,ily accommodate themselves to the surface over which the sled is to be propelled. On the inner faces of the propeller-wheels are se- 4 cured blades r, Fig. 4, which assist in propelling the sled when the same moves in snow.

On the front part of the frame A are mounted foot-levers H, and on the rear end of the frame are pivoted the steering-bars I, which connectby ropes or chains with the foot-levers H. If one of these levers is pressed outward, the corresponding steering-bar is brought to bear upon theground', and the direction in which the sled moves is changed. By depressing both steering-bars at the same time, the motion of v the sled can be arrested. 'The seat C is adjustable on the frame A, so that it can be brought closer to or farther from the foot-ley vers H, according to the stature of the person occupying the seat. The hand-levers D can be operated in opposite directions, one being drawn back while the other is drawn forward IOO or they can be operated in one and the same direction, both being drawnback simultaneously; and in order to enable the occupant of the seat to increase the stroke of the hand-levers, the seat G may be made to slide on the frame A in the same manner in which the seats in row-boats are madebtoslide. The hand-,levers D may also be provided each with two pawls acting in opposite directions on the ratchetwheels, so that each lever produces a continuous revolution ofthe propeller-Wheels.

The seat C may be hinged at its back end and provided with a pin, which moves in a slot in the lever G, so that when the seat is depressed the lever G is moved forward and the propeller-wheels are thrown into action. Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, with a sled, of the propellerwheels F, mounted on independent arms E,

means for depressing the propeller-wheels upon the ground, the shaft b, connected to the' propeller-wheels by belts or chains, the cogwheels c, mounted on the shaft b, the cogwheels d, gearing into the cog-wheels c, and the levers D and pawls f, for imparting a r0- tary motion to the cog-wheels d.

2. The combination, substantially as herein.- before described, with a sled, of the propellerwheels F, mounted on independent arms E, the rock-shaft Z, lever G, and elastic fingers m, for depressing the propeller-wheels, and means for imparting to the said propeller-wheels a rotary motion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES BERNHARD. [L s] Vitnessesz.

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsTENHUBER. 

